Applications of the infinitive in French and their Persian equivalents: A case study of the novel Sous le ciel d'Oran by Najib Redouane

پژوهش های زبان و ترجمه فرانسه

Volume 8, Issue 1 - Serial Number 14, August 2025, Pages 1-25   

Document Type: پژوهش های زبان و ترجمه فرانسه

DOI: 10.22067/rltf.2025.94206.1146

Authors

Nahid Djalili Marand^{* 1}; Samaneh Asgari²

¹Department of French, Faculty of Literature Alzahra University Tehran Iran

²Department of French Tarbiat Modares University Tehran Iran

Abstract

The 'infinitive' is examined in this article and its various uses in French grammar, taking a comparative approach to Persian. Considering that direct infinitive equivalents may not always be found when translating from one language to another, we asked the question: In Persian, what is the equivalent of each function of the French infinitive? Is verbal mood used as widely as it is in French? A rich research corpus on the subject was necessary to find appropriate answers to our questions. Sous le ciel d'Oran, written by Najeeb Rizwan, is our choice for this purpose, as it encompasses a wide range of different uses of the French infinitive. We translated sentences that were related to our research subject. We investigated the French infinitive in the source language sentences and their equivalents in the target language using a descriptive-analytical and library-based method, with references to French and Iranian grammarians. By conducting a comparative study, we were able to find appropriate answers to our research questions. This research includes translation, so we have employed Antoine Berman's “deforming tendencies” as translation theories. By analyzing and comparing selected excerpts from the French text with their Persian translations, it was revealed that in the majority of cases, the French infinitive is rendered in Persian as a conjugated verb, occasionally as a verbal noun, and rarely as an infinitive.

Keywords

Grammar"؛ Translation"؛ Sous le ciel d'؛ Oran"؛ Infinitive Mood; "؛ "؛ Infinitive Function"

References